North Coffee’s Cub Scout Pack 245 recently took that motto to heart by collecting over 500 pounds of food for the Good Samaritan of Manchester Food Bank.

“We are trying to raise awareness for the Cub Scout programs in the area,” said Cub Master Bruce Warpool, “and at the same time we wanted to raise awareness of the [Good Samaritan] food bank.

“[Helping] the needy is not a holiday-type of thing; it’s a year-round occurrence. Bad things happen to good people all the time. The more support we can give the local food banks – we’re helping other people. And that’s the Cub Scout motto.”

For the pack it has been an ongoing project that started in March, and despite their age, the members are quite vocal about the drive.

“I thought that this was a really good assignment,” said Cub Scout Tanner Maccagnone. “I think everyone [did] a good [job] at helping people.”

Scout Hunter Frazee said, “I hope that everyone that gets this is happy… and want to say you’re welcome to them.”

Caring for the less fortunate in Manchester

Good Samaritans of Manchester food bank is located at the rear of New Life Church on Hillsboro Boulevard.

Good Samaritan food pantry coordinator Fay Jones said that this year is the organization’s 30th anniversary.

“We are an outreach of the Manchester ministerial association.”

She said the shelter feeds from 500-600 families each month without accepting any federal money.

“We are supported by area churches and private donations.”

The shelter buys some food, and a portion of what goes, out comes from direct food donations.

Jones said that the food bank aids citizens of Coffee County and Manchester. She said that Tullahoma has a separate organization.

“If you come in and need food, we’ll help you.”

Jones said that proof of residency is required, which can include mail with a local address, a voter or automobile registration, fishing license or even a pawn ticket. In addition participants must have a photo id and a social security number.

She adds that Good Samaritan’s main goal is to feed the hungry of Coffee County.

The Good Samaritan food bank is open three days a week – from 9 to11:45 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 12:30 to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Other local food and clothing providers include,

The Main Street Church of Christ, which donates clothing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the church on 201 East Main St.,

Church of Christ at Fredonia, which donates clothing 9-11 a.m., on the first Saturday of each month. For information call Flora Lester at 728-2669 or Paul Sheppard at 273-1187,

The Manchester Church of God, which has a community supper from 5-6 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month,

and the Manchester First Baptist Church Feed My Sheep volunteers cook and serve a free hot meal in the fellowship hall to anyone in need at 11 a.m. monthly. Contact Bart Starr, Minister of Music, at bstarr.fbc@gmail.com or 931-728-2138.

In addition to the various backpack programs at the county elementary schools, which send less fortunate students kid-friendly individual meals home for night and weekends, Coffee County Schools Family Resource Center lists the following partners by category: